Method of attaching spiders to handwheel rims



Nov. 16 1926.

Filed Feb. 18, 1925 Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

tems? EDWARD DILL AND ALVA W. scoT'T, or nAY on, Q5110, Assrenons To THEINLAND nreivnrecTunrne COMPANY, or nAY -on, onto, a-ooiaronerron onDELAWARE.

' 1\ IEJ.IE'IOD OF ATTACHING SPIDERS TO I-IANDWHEEL Bill/ZS.

Application filed February This invention relates to themanufacturerinother object is to provide a simple method of concealing the screwsor bolts by which a pressed metal spideris attached to a.

llulllfi'lleel rim. 7

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the billowing description, reterencebeing had to the accompanyingclearings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

' Fig. l is a top plan view of an automobile steering wheel builtaccording to this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional the spider arms aresecured to the rim means of concealed screws. i

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the outer end of one spider arm and aportion of the rim.

Fig. 4. is a sectional view showing a modification in which there is noreinforcing member in the rim.

e 'lication of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, like or characters refer to like or similar partsthroughout the several views. 1

In the manufacture of he wheel 01" Figs. 1. to 3, a metal hoop 10,preferably of 3/18 inch steel'wire, has its ends welded together to forma quite rigidand self-sustaining ring, yet one which is sufiicientlyyieldable to absorb shocks without danger of breaking. To this hoop 10there is attached four view showing how by equally spaced anchor members11, each of which is provided with two malleable lugs 12 which are bentaround the hoop 10 thus securing the members 11 thereto. The members 11are also provided with threaded recesses 13 to later receive thescrews'l l by which the spider is secured to the rim.

A length or" unvulcani'zed rubber rim stock havin a continuouslongltudlnal slit therein is now laid. around the hoop 10, the hoop andanchor members 11 being received in the slit, and the rubber is pressedfirmly around 5 is a bottom plan View of the modisimilar reference is;1925. Serial No. 19,085;

1 rare-er series.

the hoop so that it adheres thereto and is" thus held in place in ring"form so that the rim unit maybe handled until it is placed izing moldis provided with recesses for-receiving the projecting endsgo-t thetemporary screws so that when the rim unlt is laidin the mold thesePEOJGCUIIQ ends tall withln said'recesses and automatically align allfour of the anchor members 11 to theircorrect posit-ions. These"temporaryscrews remain in place during the vulcanization of the rimunder suitable heat and pressure. During vulcani/"iat'ion the edges ofthe longitudinal slit are vulcanized. together forming an integralstructure and the rubber flows closely up around the inserted anchormembers 11 and the temporary screws. tion the rim is removed fromthemold, the temporary screws unscrewed from he threadedrecesses 13, andthe rim given the desired buffing" and polishing before the spider isattached'thereto. Obviouslysuch bufiing and polishing may be very muchmoreeasily done where there is no spider to interfere with such workthan where the spiderarms aremolded in place in the rubberim. y i

The metal spider is next firmlysecured to the finished being'screwedthereto by the screws lwhich are threaded into the ;l11et&l&n0l101members .11, asclearly shown.

Oi course any suitable type of screwed on spider may be used; but therehas been illustrated. a preferred type wherein the screw 'headsareconcealed in the finished spider.

ttervulcanizaback the outer end of the metal of which the arm is formed,this tongue being left bent in the position shown on the left side ofFig. 2 until after the screw 14 is secured in place.

The tongue 22 is then bent in to substan-' tially close the triangularopening 21 as clearly shown on the right side of Fig. 2. By th s meansthe spider retaining screws are completely concealed and the spider hasthe appearance of one having the spider arms inserted and molded inplace in the rim.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modification is shown wherein no reinforcing hoop isused in the molded rubber rim. In this form the threaded anchor members11 are supported accurately in place in the mold by temporary screwshaving projecting ends which are rigidly supported upon some part of themold. The unvulcanized rim stock is laid in the mold about the anchormembers 11, having been provided with recesses or slots which receivethe members 11 and the temporary screws and permit the rubber stock-tolie fairly closely around these parts. During vulcanization the rubberflows up very snugly around these inserted parts and is vulcanizedthereto. After vulcanization the temporary screws are removed asdescribed above, the rim is sanded and polished, and the spider is thenattached by screws extending into theanchor members 11.

In the form shown in either Fig. 2 or Fig. 4, if desired, instead of atemporary screw member being used to align the anchor members in themold as above described, an un threaded temporary member may be usedwhich fits snugly within the threaded recesses 13 in the anchor members.

Also the anchor members 11 or 11 may be of such dimensions thatthey'eXtend to the surface of the rim on the inner periphery thereof andheld in place during vulcanization by either form of temporary member ashereinabove described. In such cases the exposed surface of the anchormember is concealed by theend of the spider arm which abuts thereagainstand is secured thereto by the screw 14.-

A further modified form of molded in anchor member which may be used, ifdesired,

be directly secured by having a nut threaded thereupon. Thisnut'preferaniy is provided with a screw-driver slot and is secured inplace by means of a screw-driver in the same manner in which screws 14are secured in place. The tongue 22 is then bent down to conceal the nutin the same manner as with the screws 14.

While the forms of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that otherforms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. The method of securing spider. arms to a handwheel rim comprising:providing a spider having substantially box section arms with a portionof one side of said boX sec with a tongue adjacent the outer endsthereof bent downwardly to expose the end wall of said box section,securing the spider to the rim by headed screws passing through said endwalls of the box section arms, and then bending said tonguesubstantially flush with said box section to enclose and conceal thescrew heads.

3. A handwheel comprising: a molded rim having an endless reinforcingmetal hoop therein, a plurality of anchor members secured to said hoopby malleable lugs on said anchor members bent around said hoop, saidanchor members being molded in the rim material, and a metal spiderhaving the outer ends of the arms thereof secured to said anchormembers.

In testimony whereof we hereto affix our signatures.

EDW, J. DILL. ALVA w. scoTT.

